Carlton Martin has already collected the first two of what will likely be many scholarship offers.

Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi have made their respective desires known to Martin, a 6-foot-2, 258-pound strong-side defensive end from Madison (Madison Central), Miss. However, Martin is leaning in another direction in the early going, confident that school will soon jump in the mix with an offer of its own.

"I'm open right now, but I like Ole Miss the best right now though," Martin said Monday night. "I like (Ole Miss) real good. I like the coaching staff, the players and the direction the program is going right now."

Martin, who attended a couple of the Rebels' 2008 home games, said his sister's birthday party prevented him from making it to Ole Miss' first junior day on Jan. 31. He's trying to make arrangements to be in Oxford for the Rebels' second junior day on Feb. 28. He said he has already made plans to attend Ole Miss' football camp this summer.

Southern Miss and Mississippi State, Martin said, will get looks this fall. Martin attended a game in Hattiesburg last season when the Golden Eagles entertained East Carolina.